Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 117

**Healing Slowly But Surely**
By R. Joseph

117

The reason behind my turmoil was simple: I was jealous.

Leilani.

The sudden sound of heavy breathing outside my door jolted me from my spiraling thoughts. I lifted my head abruptly, my eyes darting away from the glaring screen of my laptop, convinced that my ears had betrayed me. But the noise persisted, growing louder with each second, a rhythmic reminder that I was not alone. Slowly, I rose from my chair, clutching a baton tightly, my heart racing as I tiptoed toward the door, ready to confront whoever dared to invade my solitude.

As I cautiously pushed the door open, my breath caught in my throat, the baton suspended midair.

“Jay?” I whispered, disbelief coloring my voice as I took in his disheveled appearance.

After my return from the hospital, I had been engulfed in a cloud of negativity, my mood as dark as the shadows that danced in the corners of my mind. I had buried myself in work, attempting to escape the turmoil within. But now, standing before Jay, I realized that my earlier distress paled in comparison to the exhaustion etched across his face.

He looked utterly depleted, dark circles framing his deep gray eyes, which seemed to hold the weight of the world. When our gazes met, a weary sigh escaped his lips, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as his eyes landed on my baton. Without uttering a word, he enveloped me in a tight embrace, pulling me into his warmth.

I stiffened, caught off guard by the sudden intimacy.

Time seemed to stretch as we stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, as if we were both trying to anchor ourselves against the storm of life outside. My knees began to weaken, and I could feel the chill seeping into my fingertips, turning them numb. My cheeks were equally frozen, a sharp reminder of the cold air that surrounded us.

“Come on in! I have a lovely little fireplace we can cozy up to!” I suggested, my voice barely above a whisper, trying to break the spell of the moment.

His eyes sparkled with gratitude, and after a moment that felt like an eternity, he flashed me a slow smile and said, “You’re too kind, Leilani.”

I shrugged off his compliment, dismissing it as his usual playful sarcasm. I stepped back, leading the way into my home, acutely aware of the way his large presence filled the space behind me, a comforting weight that I didn’t know I needed.

For the first time since I had left home, I had decided to indulge in some Christmas decorations. Jarek, well aware of my previous disdain for the holiday, gasped in surprise as he caught sight of the grand Christmas tree standing proudly in the corner of my living room. A flicker of amusement danced in his eyes, but he remained silent, his expression speaking volumes.

He settled himself in front of the fireplace, and after serving him a plate of dessert, I joined him, my laptop resting on my lap.

His gaze flitted between the glowing screen of my laptop and my face, curiosity etched in his features. “You were working?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

I hesitated, allowing the weight of his question to settle before I nodded in response.

“Do you do anything else besides work in your free time?” he inquired, the playful tone in his voice clashing with the seriousness in his eyes.

I let out a sigh, my shoulders slumping slightly. “I do… sometimes.”

“And do you think that’s such a good thing?”

“Jay, please… work is a lot of fun for me. I don’t need you to remind me of how my entire life is—”

“I’m not trying to remind you of anything,” he interjected sharply, a flash of concern crossing his features. The words I had prepared faltered on my lips as I took in the worry etched into his brow.

He wasn’t lecturing me; he was genuinely concerned.

His tone softened, and the gentleness in his eyes deepened as he whispered, “I’m your employer… and even I think you work a lot more than I do… or ever could.”

“And that’s why you pay my salary,” I quipped, taking a bite of my banana, trying to lighten the mood.

His eyes followed my movement, lingering on the piece of fruit for a moment too long before he finally asked, “And what about Chalice?”

“What about her?” I replied, raising my eyebrows in confusion.

His face flushed slightly, and he dropped his gaze, scratching the back of his neck nervously. “Do you still plan on ‘surprising’ her at her wedding?”

His question sent a frown flickering across my face, a hint of something unspoken hanging in the air. He seemed to have an underlying concern, and my curiosity piqued. I decided to answer honestly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

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